12th July, 2021 Ministers responsible for the PACER Plus regional trade agreement recently held their first Ministerial Meeting since the agreement entered into force (13 December 2020) via internet virtual conference on June 30.
Tonga’s Minister for Trade and Economic Development (MTED), Hon. Tatafu Toma Moeaki, chaired the meeting from Nuku‘alofa. The meeting included representatives from countries party to the agreement and signatories to the agreement. A representative from the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat was also present at the meeting.
Special attention was given to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the people of the Pacific and the subsequent recovery efforts, and progress made on the implementation of PACER Plus. Three main areas of focus included Regional Integration, People-to-People Links and the Movement of Labor, and Access to Markets for Pacific companies.
The meeting concluded with a Communiqué which issued several strategic directives to signatories and the PACER PlusImplementation Unit in Apia based in Apia, for the year ahead.
PACER Plus or the Pacific Agreement for Closer Economic Relations Plus Australia and New Zealand is the inter-Pacific Island trade agreement that includes Australia and New Zealand.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Trade and Economic Development